Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23-Year-Old

Top 10 Bourbons

Tracing its history back four generations to the pre-Prohibition whiskey distilled by family patriarch Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle, Sr., Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has deep roots in the Kentucky bourbon trade. Now overseen by Pappy's grandson, Julian III, and his son, Preston, the family-owned and -operated business continues to craft quality small-batch bourbon in the classic Van Winkle vein.

The confluence of the distillery's deep respect for tradition and flair for modern flavor is perhaps best evinced in Pappy Van Winkle's 23-Year-Old, a rich bourbon aged in charred white oak barrels. Substituting wheat for the rye used in Pappy's original recipe, this small-batch bourbon exhibits a sweeter, smoother taste and complex flavors of honey and toffee.

If not straight up: Don't bother; it would be a shame to waste 23 years worth of aging.

Get to know Pappy better by visiting the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery official website